Abstract

Empirical insight into understanding the perception of working mothers towards exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in Nigeria is needed to develop effective interventions for improving EBF rate and thus reducing infant mortality. This study therefore examines working mothers’ perceptions of exclusive breastfeeding across selected personal and workplace factors. The research adopted a cross-sectional survey design using quantitative research methods within the premises of the University of Ibadan (UI) and the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. The population included working mothers employed in UI and UCH. A representative sample size of 340 respondents was obtained based on the combined total number of female employees in UI and UCH. A multistage sampling technique was used to select participants for the study. Data collection was done using a structured, pre-coded, self-administered questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics was employed in the data analysis. Results showed that workplace factors (manager support, co-worker support, work flexibility) jointly predicted working mothers’ perception of exclusive breastfeeding in UI and UCH [F_{(3, 331)}=21.941; p < .05] and accounted for 16.6% of the variance in their perception. Similarly, the independent influence of workplace factors showed that manger support (β = .466; p < .05), co-worker support (β = .123; p < .05) and work flexibility (β = .133; p < .05) significantly predicted the perception of exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers in UI and UCH. Furthermore, parity (β = -.096; p < .05) of respondents emerged as a significant negative predictor of exclusive breastfeeding perceptions among working mothers in UI and UCH. Efforts towards promoting exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers should be modified based on contextual individual and workplace factors in order to enhance the effectiveness of such interventions.

Keywords: Breastfeeding; Perception; Mother

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